The OCDrama Digest 10th – 17th March

Folks, I’m in a state of inertia. The weather, the haze, the general state of affairs is making me feel disconnected from myself. I’m not exactly sure what that means, but I’m hoping salvation will arrive soon.

1. Secret Love Affair held a press conference and unveiled a 21-minute preview that sent shockwaves through the dramaverse. Okay, fine it sent shockwaves through me. I understand if you’d rather not be spoiled and didn’t watch it, but when it’s presented to you like a poisoned apple on a silver platter, you bite and suffer the consequences. So now I gots the SLA fever. The drama starts tomorrow on jTBC and my body is ready.

Dramafever is subbing this, and if the subs don’t cut it, I just…well, lets think happy thoughts.  For now, I’ll leave this here of Yoo Ah In and Kim Hae Ee for you to start the week off on a good note.

2. Is anyone tuned in to God’s Gift? I watched the first 4 episodes and I’m taken aback by how unpredictable and nail-biting it’s been. I did not expect to be on the edge of my seat this much. And I certainly did not expect to feel so satisfied in seeing a mother be so brave but so reckless. I love that Lee Bo Young’s character gets her hands very dirty (and very bloody). I am worried though, that the drama will sacrifice logic and emotional truth for the sake of keeping up it’s relentless pace but for now, this is a small quibble. And Cho Seung Woo is wonderful to watch in the role of a former detective turned sidekick. Definitely one for those who enjoy sussing out clues and speculating outcomes.  

3. I mentioned last week about the controversy over a CL solo track ‘MTBD’ that allegedly contained a sample from a Quranic verse. After a formal complaint was lodged, YG pulled the video off Youtube and uploaded an edit without the offending sample, but there’s no news if the track will be pulled from the physical albums and digital downloads. I think this has cast a shadow over 2NE1’s comeback album and more importantly, the ire has left a bad taste in many mouths. I suggest reading jandoe’s articulate take on this for more.

4. I’ve been dipping my toes deeper into the murky waters of K-pop only to discover that the term is a bit of a misnomer. I’m used to (semi)well-defined musical genres and sub-genres and that’s just not the way K-pop seems to operate. In any case, I was happy to discover this interview with Crying Nut, a pioneering punk rock band who are, strangely (or maybe not to savier folks) playing at the K-pop showcase at the music festival SXSW in the US alongside Jay Park, Nell and Hyuna. Ask A Korean! wrote a run-down of the night here.

5.  Speaking of K-pop, I’ve been sussing out a fascinating and exploding form fan outreach called the reaction MV. I was in a midst of writing a whole post about it but inertia, remember? If you don’t know what this is, it’s fans uploading videos of themselves reacting to K-pop MVs. It’s a exhibitionist fangirl/boying, and it’s great fun. This duo called Kspazz are one of the best I’ve found. They have a hysterical mix of salacious commentary, endless enthusiasm and spasmodic flailing. If you only have five minutes of spare, start watching at the 5:00 mark to 9:00 :).

Have a great week ahead!

• 2NE1
• CL
• Crying Nut
• God's Gift
• Lee Bo Young
• Secret Love Affair
• Yoo Ah In